Building a list of schools with your teenager is a task in and of itself. Figuring out how to apply to each of them is a whole other can of worms.
While most schools accept the Common Application, other schools have different requirements. The University of California, which includes nine campuses for undergraduates (UC Berkeley, UC Davis, UC Irvine, UCLA, UC Merced, UC Riverside, UC San Diego, UC Santa Barbara, and UC Santa Cruz), uses its own application, which can be accessed here.
Like the Common App, the UC Application requires students to fill out information about their school, grades and courses, family, and personal data. There are three major differences between the UC and Common Applications.
1. The Activities Section
The UC Application allows students to insert up to 20 activities. Students can fill out entries for extracurricular activities, clubs, volunteer work, internships, jobs, caregiving activities, competitions, honors, and awards. While the Common App restricts this section to 10 entries and allows an additional 5 slots for academic awards, the UC Application allows students more space and flexibility. Additionally, the UC App includes much more space for students to describe what they did and their role in each organization. Some types of activities require more writing than others.
2. Testing
The UC system does not consider SAT or ACT scores in the admissions process. They are considered “test-blind,” meaning that even if a student decides to submit scores, the admissions team will not review them as part of the applicant’s profile. However, test scores may be used for course placement after admission.
3. Essays
The Common App requires students to submit a 650-word personal essay; students select one prompt from a list of seven. The UC Application does things a little differently. On the UC App, there are eight Personal Insight Questions, or PIQs. Students select four of them and craft 350-word responses to each. So, even though UC applicants will not be writing a long-form essay, they will be doing more writing overall.
How to stay on top of your applications
The reality is, applying to college is a huge task. In years past, it was common for students to apply to 3-5 schools, but in the current era it is more reasonable to apply to 15-20. Schools that were once targets are now reaches; state schools are no longer guarantees for in-state applicants. In order to achieve results, students must present the admissions officers with a cohesive story, a reason to accept them, and something that makes them stand out from the crowd. The best way to achieve this feat is with the guidance of Aristotle Circle’s college admissions advisors. We know what colleges are looking for in order to build their freshman class, and can help you increase your odds of admission across the board: targets, safeties, and yes, reaches.
For more information on our college admissions counseling packages and essay services, visit our website at www.aristotlecircle.com.
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